Friday morning got very real, very fast at Lone Star College University Park in northwest Harris County, when an urgent alert went out telling everyone on campus to evacuate and move away from their buildings. The message, which included the all-caps warning “THIS IS NOT A DRILL,” instructed students, faculty and staff to leave calmly and await further instructions. No reason for the evacuation was immediately provided by the college.
What officials said
The notice appeared on the college’s website and was shared by the campus police department, according to FOX 26 Houston. The alert read, in part, “Calmly evacuate and move away from your building. Await further instructions. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” At the time of its report, FOX 26 Houston noted that no additional information had been released.
How Lone Star's alert system works
Lone Star College uses its LoneStarCollegeAlert system to warn about immediate threats, according to Lone Star College. Campus police and the public address system can activate the alerts, which are automatically set up for students and employees through LoneStar.edu accounts. Messages can be pushed out by email, text and app notifications.
Campus response and resources
The Lone Star College Police Department lists a 24/7 response line at 2812905911 and an alert hotline at 2812902652 for emergencies, according to the department’s information. Officials have urged people to follow directions from officers on the ground and to keep an eye on official channels for an all clear. FOX 26 Houston reported that updates would be posted on the college website and campus police channels.
Past campus emergencies
This is not the first time University Park has had to clear out fast. In 2019 a chemical spill on campus prompted an evacuation and a HazMat response, according to ABC13. More recently, in September 2025, a bomb threat targeting the library led to a precautionary campus closure while law enforcement searched the buildings, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
This story will be updated as Lone Star College officials or local law enforcement release more information. For now, anyone on campus is being told to follow campus police instructions and monitor official channels for further guidance.
